How would you react if someone asked if they could name a building after you? My response to the University of Hertfordshire was ‘Ooh! I’d be delighted. Thank you.’ This week it has finally dawned on me what that means. I was at a University dinner with Professor Quintin McKellar, the Vice Chancellor, on Friday, and he suddenly said ‘Oh,…

If someone calls you a Geek, how do you feel? How about if they call you a nerd? Well this Venn diagram really made me smile. I picked it up on twitter from @athenedonald who had been sent it by @jimalkhalili. So perhaps that explains it – social ineptitude is hardly a compliment, whereas intelligence probably is, and obsession ……

All the rumpus over GCSEs has been reminding me that there’s more to education – and to job hunting – than qualifications. But what are these additional ‘soft skills’ or ‘employability skills’? And how can you get them? There’s no syllabus or exam. The Guardian reported on ‘soft skills’ in June this year, from a graduate perspective. The feature highlighted…

I have a dilemma. Last month I was awarded an honorary doctorate in science by the University of the West of England. I’m hugely proud to have received this in recognition of the work I do promoting science and engineering opportunities to young people, and I had a great day in Bristol with my family, including the chance to speak…